Photos from our lagoon excursion in the dinghy at Ahe, Tuamotus 

We had to walk in the water the last 100 feet to get the dinghy to shore.  Water was too shallow with our weight in the boat.

View of the lagoon from shore.

We took a walk on the beach and saw lots of sea cucumbers underwater.

A new palm tree springs to life out of a wayward coconut.

 Sharon handling the dinghy

A view between two motus (islands that make up the atoll) with the open ocean water in the background.

Sharon

The village of Tenukupara has a brand new solar power plant (shown here), and while we were there they were getting ready to receive French officials for an inauguration ceremony for the project. 

Tenukupara with Quic en Grogne anchored in the harbor.  Note the reef between the sailboat and the foreground.  This is why we wait for daylight to navigate within the atolls.

Roel from Quic en Grogne successfully tests the repairs Michael and he made on the kite for his kiteboard.  (We couldn't fit the sailor and the kite in one picture).  The kite worked well, but this day there was not quite enough wind for him to really get going.

Michael took this picture while on the rope ladder he made so he could climb up the rig and lookout for coral heads.

Another view from above.

These buildings are on stilts in the Ahe lagoon.  We think these are used by pearl farmers.

Leaving Tenukupara and Quic en Grogne behind.

 
A motu at Ahe.  A motu is an island that makes up the chain of land that forms the atoll ring.

 
 Passe Reianui behind us as we leave Ahe for Rangiroa.

Three masts belonging to an extremely large private sailing yacht anchored inside the Rangiroa atoll.  We took this picture from outside  as we waited for the tide to turn so we could sail through the Passe Tiputa to safe harbor.

Inside Rangiroa we anchor with this view of the Hotel Kia Ora.  The hotel was closed for remodeling.

The extremely large private yacht in full view from our anchoring site. 

The yachtsmen and a few of their toys.  They also had remote control model saiboats, jet skis, a paddle board, and several fancy motor boats.

They also had lots of crew to help them with the toys.

This power catamaran was outfitted for diving.  They were anchored near us for a few days.

Captain Ron's next project, also anchored nearby here in Rangiroa.  If you have never seen the film Captain Ron , rent, download, or buy it at a garage sale.  It's a family movie with Kurt Russell, particularly entertaining for those interested in sailing.

 S/V Kate came in through Passe Tiputa just after us.  She is from Canada, he is from Australia.

S/V Kate sets their genaker sail and heads for the other side of the atoll.

A family gets a diving lesson at the reef where we snorkeled near Tiputa pass.

Titan Triggerfish  (We splurged and bought a placemat with fish pictures on it, so we were able to ID a few.) 

A large school of silvery fish, possibly a sort of jack.

 Several sorts of coral and fish.

 More fish and coral.

This is a Black-Tipped Shark that swam by as Michael was making a video.  The photo is from the video so not crystal clear.  Clear enough to see the shark, though!  It ran/swam away when it saw Michael (and vice versa).

Sixbar Wrasse.

Scissortail Sergeant

A different Sixbar Wrasse (really cool colors, very picturesque!).

Sting ray at the boat dock.

Slender Suckerfish (Remora) right outside the Larabeck.  Several of these hung out under our boat.

Gauguin Pearl Farm.  The yellow balls are Mississippi freshwater mother-of-pearl made into balls and coated with antisceptic.

Extracting a black pearl from the oyster. 

Sarah, Sharon, and Michael in Sarah and Richard's backyard on Avatoru Pass (seen in background).  Sarah moved to Rangiroa from the U.S. some twenty years ago working in the tourist industry.  Today she gives music and English lessons and has more time to enjoy her tropical surroundings.